Practice counting with this free printable Halloween number matching game! Match witch hats to broomsticks in this fun preschool and kindergarten math activity.
Halloween Number Matching Game
Make practicing numbers extra fun this spooky season with our free printable Halloween number matching game!
This adorable witch hat and broom matching activity is a fun, hands-on way for preschool and kindergarten kids to practice counting, number recognition, and one-to-one correspondence.
Kids match colorful witch hats featuring numbers 1–10 with cards showing the corresponding number of broomsticks.
It’s a simple, screen-free Halloween math activity that’s perfect for classroom math centers, morning tubs, homeschool lessons, or a little extra counting practice at home.
And the best part? You can download and print the entire game for free!
A Fun Halloween Counting Activity for Preschool and Kindergarten
I’m always looking for ways to make early learning feel more like play, especially around the holidays.
And Halloween is such a fun opportunity to sneak a little extra math practice into the day!
That’s exactly why I created this Halloween number matching game.
Instead of using traditional flashcards or worksheets, children get to practice their counting skills by matching colorful witch hats with groups of broomsticks.
Each witch hat displays a number from 1 to 10, while the corresponding card features the same quantity of brooms.
For example, a witch hat displaying the number 4 matches the card with four broomsticks.
Simple, right?
But there’s actually quite a bit of learning happening as children count, compare quantities, and search for the correct matches.
I especially love that this printable can be adapted for different ages and skill levels.
Younger preschoolers can begin with numbers 1–5, while older children can work with the complete set of numbers 1–10.
It’s also a great addition to a Halloween-themed classroom math center because children can play independently, with a partner, or in a small group.
What Kids Learn With This Halloween Number Matching Game
This printable might look like a simple Halloween number matching game, but it helps children practice several important early math and developmental skills.
🔢 Number recognition: Children identify written numerals from 1–10 as they search for the corresponding broom cards.
🧹 Counting skills: Kids count the individual broomsticks on each card to determine the correct quantity.
🎃 One-to-one correspondence: Pointing to each broomstick while counting helps children understand that every object represents one number in the counting sequence.
⭐ Number-quantity association: Matching a numeral to a group of objects helps children connect written numbers with actual quantities.
✂️ Fine motor skills: Picking up, arranging, flipping, and matching the cards gives little hands an opportunity to practice coordination and control.
🧠 Visual discrimination and concentration: Children look closely at the cards, compare quantities, and identify the correct matches.
💜 Confidence and independence: The activity is easy to understand, making it a great choice for children who are beginning to work independently.
I particularly like number matching activities because they give children a chance to demonstrate what they know without having to complete a traditional worksheet.
And because the activity feels like a game, kids are often happy to practice the same skills again and again!
What’s Included in the Free Printable?
Our Halloween number matching game includes 20 printable matching cards featuring adorable Halloween-themed illustrations.
You’ll receive:
- 🎩 10 colorful witch hat cards displaying numbers 1–10
- 🧹 10 matching broomstick counting cards
- 🎃 Easy-to-follow dotted cutting borders
- 💜 Bright, kid-friendly Halloween illustrations
- ⭐ A printable PDF that’s easy to prepare and reuse
The witch hats come in a variety of Halloween colors, including purple, orange, green, and black.
Each numbered witch hat has a corresponding broom card featuring the correct quantity of broomsticks.
The printable Halloween number matching game includes four pages of matching cards.
Simply print the activity pages, cut out the cards, and you’re ready to play!
Supplies You’ll Need
You only need a few basic supplies to prepare this Halloween number matching game.
- Printer: To print your free Halloween number matching game.
- White cardstock: I recommend printing on cardstock rather than regular printer paper because it’s sturdier and holds up better to repeated use.
- Laminator and laminating pouches: Optional, but highly recommended if you plan to use the activity in a classroom or want to reuse it year after year.
- Paper trimmer or scissors: To cut the cards along the dotted borders.
- Zipper Pouches: To keep all 20 cards together when the game isn’t being used.
My tip: If you’re preparing this activity for a classroom math center, I definitely recommend laminating the cards before cutting them apart. It helps protect the printable from sticky fingers, spills, and everyday classroom wear.
You can also store the completed game in a small zippered pouch or plastic photo storage box so it’s ready to use whenever you need a quick math activity.
How to Prepare the Halloween Number Matching Game
Getting this printable Halloween number matching game ready is quick and easy!
Step 1: Download and Print
Start by downloading the free Halloween number matching game using the download form located at the very bottom of this blog post.
Print the four activity pages on white cardstock at actual size.
I recommend using your printer’s best-quality color setting so the witch hats and broom illustrations look bright and vibrant.
Step 2: Laminate the Printable
If you’d like to make the game reusable, place each printed sheet inside a laminating pouch and run it through your laminator.
Laminating is especially helpful for classroom use because the cards can be handled by multiple children without getting damaged.
If you don’t have a laminator, that’s completely fine! Cardstock alone works well for occasional use.
Step 3: Cut Out the Cards
Use scissors or a paper trimmer to cut along the dotted borders surrounding each card.
You’ll end up with 20 individual cards: 10 numbered witch hats and 10 matching broomstick cards.
Step 4: Set Up the Game
Separate the witch hat cards from the broomstick cards.
Arrange the numbered witch hats on a table or learning mat, then place the broom cards nearby.
For younger children, begin with just a few matching pairs rather than the entire set.
Now you’re ready to play!
How to Play the Halloween Number Matching Game
The goal is simple: Match each numbered witch hat with the card showing the same number of broomsticks.
Here’s how we like to play.
- Choose a witch hat card and identify the number printed on it.
- Look through the broomstick cards and count the brooms on each one.
- Find the card with the matching quantity.
- Place the witch hat and broomstick cards side by side to make a pair.
- Continue until all the numbers have been matched correctly.
For example, if a child chooses the witch hat displaying the number 6, they’ll need to find the card featuring six broomsticks.
Encourage children to touch or point to each broom as they count aloud.
This helps reinforce one-to-one correspondence and can prevent children from accidentally skipping or counting the same object twice.
Once they’ve found a match, you can ask questions like:
- How many broomsticks did you count?
- What number is on your witch hat?
- Can you find the number that comes next?
- Which card has more broomsticks?
- Which card has fewer broomsticks?
These little conversations are a great way to build early math vocabulary while keeping the activity playful.
5 Fun Ways to Use This Halloween Counting Printable
One of my favorite things about this Halloween number matching game is how versatile it is.
Once you’ve printed and prepared the cards, there are several different ways to use them!
1. Halloween Math Center
Set up the witch hat and broomstick cards in a small basket or tray at your classroom math center.
Children can work independently or with a partner to match the numbered hats to the correct quantities.
For younger preschoolers, include only numbers 1–5.
For children who are ready for more of a challenge, use the complete set of numbers 1–10.
This is a great low-prep math center that can be used throughout October.
2. Halloween Memory Matching Game
Turn this printable into a Halloween-themed memory game!
Shuffle the cards and place them face down on a table.
Children take turns flipping over two cards, trying to find a numbered witch hat and the corresponding broomstick quantity.
If the cards match, they keep the pair.
If they don’t match, both cards are turned face down again.
Continue until all the matching pairs have been found.
This version adds an extra challenge because children need to remember where different cards are located.
Tip: Start with three or four matching pairs before introducing all 20 cards. A full set can be quite challenging for younger children!
3. Halloween Morning Tub Activity
I love activities that children can work on independently with minimal setup.
Place a selection of witch hat and broomstick cards inside a small morning tub or activity tray.
Children can take out the cards, count the brooms, and make their matches.
When they’re finished, everything goes right back into the container.
It’s a simple way to encourage independent learning while giving little hands something meaningful to do.
4. Number Sequencing Challenge
Before matching the broomsticks, encourage children to arrange the witch hat cards in numerical order from 1–10.
Once all the hats are in the correct sequence, children can match the corresponding broomstick cards underneath.
You can also remove one or two witch hats from the sequence and ask children to identify which numbers are missing.
This is a fun way to practice number order alongside counting and matching.
5. Halloween Counting and Movement Game
Want to add a little movement to your math lesson?
Spread the numbered witch hats around the classroom or play area.
Give each child a broomstick card and ask them to count the brooms.
Then challenge them to find the matching witch hat!
Children can walk around the room searching for the correct number.
This version works especially well for small groups and children who enjoy active, hands-on learning.
How to Adapt This Activity for Different Ages
Not every child develops counting and number recognition skills at the same pace.
That’s why I like activities that can easily be adjusted depending on a child’s needs.
Younger Preschoolers: Numbers 1–5
If you’re working with younger preschoolers or children who are just beginning to recognize numbers, start with numbers 1–3.
Once they’re comfortable identifying and counting those quantities, introduce numbers 4 and 5.
Keep the cards face up and encourage children to count the broomsticks aloud.
There’s no need to rush through the entire game!
Older Preschoolers: Numbers 1–10
Children who are becoming more confident with counting can work with all ten matching pairs.
Encourage them to identify the numeral before counting the broomsticks.
You can also ask them to arrange their completed pairs in numerical order.
Kindergarten: Add a Challenge
For kindergarten children who are already comfortable counting to ten, try turning the activity into a memory game.
You can also encourage them to compare quantities, identify numbers that are one more or one less, or put the cards in descending order.
Another fun extension is to give children ten small counters and ask them to build the same quantity shown on each broomstick card.
This helps reinforce the relationship between numerals, quantities, and concrete objects.
More Halloween Learning Activities for Kids
If your little learners enjoy this Halloween number matching game, I’ve got plenty of other fun, screen-free Halloween activities you might like to try!
👻 Halloween Alphabet Matching Game
Keep the matching fun going with this adorable ghost-themed alphabet activity! Children match uppercase and lowercase letters while practicing early literacy skills.
🎃 Halloween Bingo
A fun Halloween game for classroom parties, family game nights, or small-group activities. This Halloween Bingo game is a great way to practice visual discrimination, listening, and turn-taking.
🧙♀️ Halloween Name Crafts
Make name recognition practice extra fun with Halloween name crafts that encourage children to identify, spell, and arrange the letters in their names.
🦇 Halloween Crafts and Activities
Looking for even more Halloween fun? Browse our collection of kid-friendly Halloween crafts, printable games, and hands-on learning activities for preschool and kindergarten.
🍂 Fall Leaf Alphabet Matching Activity
If you’re looking for another seasonal matching activity, our fall leaf alphabet game is a fun way to practice uppercase and lowercase letter recognition.
🎃 October Crafts and Activities
Find even more fall and Halloween-inspired crafts, printable activities, and screen-free ideas to keep little learners busy all month long in our large collection of October crafts and activities for kids!
Halloween Books to Pair With This Activity
I always love pairing crafts and printable activities with children’s books.
Reading a Halloween story before introducing our Halloween number matching game is a fun way to build excitement and connect early literacy with math.
Here are a few Halloween books that would make wonderful companions to this activity.
📚 Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson – This is my favorite pairing for our witch hat and broomstick counting game! It’s a delightful story about a friendly witch and the animals who join her on her broom. After reading, children can practice counting broomsticks and matching numbers.
📚 The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams – A playful Halloween story filled with repetition, movement, and suspense that’s just right for young children. It’s a great choice for encouraging participation during storytime.
📚 How to Catch a Witch by Alice Walstead – A fun, imaginative Halloween story that fits perfectly with the witch theme of this printable. Read the story before inviting children to complete the matching game.
📚 Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman – This classic Halloween story features a witch and a very large pumpkin! It’s a fun seasonal read that encourages cooperation and problem-solving.
📚 The Witch’s Cat and the Cooking Catastrophe by Kirstie Watson – A sweet witch-themed story that makes a fun addition to Halloween storytime before a hands-on learning activity.
My pick: I’d go with Room on the Broom. The witch and broomstick theme is such a natural match, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to combine reading, counting, and play.
Download Your Free Halloween Number Matching Game
Ready to give this fun Halloween number matching game a try?
Our free printable Halloween number matching game is a simple way to help preschool and kindergarten children practice counting, number recognition, and matching quantities.
The printable includes colorful witch hats numbered 1–10 and matching broomstick counting cards.
Just download, print, cut, and play!
For best results, print on white cardstock and laminate the cards before cutting them apart.
This printable is intended for personal and classroom use only. Please share a link to this blog post rather than distributing the PDF file directly.
Download Instructions
Getting your Halloween number matching game is easy. Fill out the form at the bottom of this post and click the “Send Me the Printable” button.
After signing up, check your email to confirm your subscription. You will then be redirected to the printable PDF containing the Halloween number matching game template.
Already subscribed? No problem! Enter your information in the form again and you’ll be taken directly to the download.
Tip: Be sure to check your spam or promotions folder if you don’t see the email right away.
Still having trouble downloading our Halloween number matching game? Check out this step-by-step download guide with images!
Final Thoughts
I hope your little learners have as much fun with this Halloween number matching game as I had creating it!
It’s such a simple way to turn counting practice into a fun, hands-on Halloween activity.
Whether you’re setting up a preschool math center, planning a Halloween-themed homeschool lesson, or looking for an easy screen-free activity to enjoy at home, these colorful witch hats and broomsticks are sure to make number practice a little more exciting.
If you’re looking for more fun seasonal learning ideas, be sure to explore our Halloween crafts and activities and follow This Tiny Blue House on Pinterest and Facebook for more free printables, crafts, and educational activities for kids.
Happy Halloween and happy counting! 🎃
